Vicente Amigo, Diego el Cigala and José Mercé figure on the program, which is to be held in La Unión (Murcia) August 3rd to 12th, 2006

S.C., May 2006

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The old market in La Unión is already bracing itself for flamenco. From August 3rd to 12th, the 2006 Las Minas Cante Festival is to hold its forty-sixth edition, devoted to the figure of bailaora Cristina Hoyos. With graphic design by Uruguayan artist Juan de Andrés, the bill includes leading cante, toque and baile figures.

Vicente Amigo (Photo: Daniel Muñoz)

Vicente Amigo, who will perform the show ‘Poeta’ together with the Murcia Symphony Orchestra, opens the festival on Friday, August 4th. José Menese, Agujetas, Nano de Jerez and Antonio el Pipa star on the second day, Saturday, August 5th. The third flamenco evening will be taken care of by Carmen Linares and Miguel Poveda. Taking over on Monday, August 7th is Diego el Cigala and the baile gala performed by artists such as Merche Esmeralda and Rafael Campallo. Manuela Carrasco’s baile and José Mercé’s cante split up the stage of the ‘cante cathedral’ on Tuesday, August 8th, closing the schedule of performances. Until Saturday the 12th, the market is reserved for the prestigious contest in which three new cante, toque and baile talents, respectively, will receive the ‘La Lámpara Minera’, ‘El Bordón Minero’ and ‘El Desplante’ awards.

Cristina Hoyos, who expressed her gratitude for the tribute at a ceremony held on May 10th in Madrid, will not offer a performance at this festival, since on those dates she will be heading up the Andalusia Flamenco Ballet in their season at Granada’s Generalife Gardens with ‘Romancero gitano’, although she will attend the tribute ceremony scheduled on Monday, August 7th. The bailaora and choreographer was “really grateful for this tribute. I always think other people deserve them, but I’m now beginning to listen to those who say I’ve been a constant fighter for this artform”.

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